Wolves boss cool on signings

Friday 25th January 2008, 12:46PM GMT.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthyMick McCarthy insists he is still on the look out for new signings but admits it is “unlikely” that there will be any more players coming in before the January transfer window shuts.

Wolves have six days to make permanent signings before the window shuts and while McCarthy has not ruled out more players joining new boys Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and David Edwards he is happy with the squad he already has.

There are funds to sign more players available but the club have been staunch in their desire to stick to the “young and hungry” blueprint that served them well last season.

“Will there be any more signings? We’ll see – I’ve got nothing in mind. I’m not expecting any but we’re still looking,” McCarthy said.

“We’ve still got the loan market as well and there may be players available there who have been displaced by other players coming in during the January window.

The Wolves chief believes that with players returning from injury his squad is strong enough to maintain a late push for promotion.


  1. 1
    Robert Perry

    I am very very disappointed.If the club are seriously interested in getting promoted it is obvious we need some additional quality players.I am convinced more than ever the club are not interested in promotion and are quite happy to tread water in The Championship.

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  2. 2
    the wolf

    How about a centre half who is the right side of 30 and who is comfortable on the ball?Our potenially world class goalkeeper is masking how slow and poor on the ball our current centre halfs are.

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  3. 3
    Deutsch Wolf

    Robert Perry do you seriously think that with all the money available for getting to the Premiership Morgan would be happy to tread water in the Championship?

    Talk sense you plank!

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  4. 4
    db

    Just a Comment on the “Young and Hungry Policy” Wolves have adopted.

    I agree that we should be looking for Hungry players who want to win and push the club forward, but why does “young” always have to be accompanied with this statement.

    If we are not carful we will end up as a grooming club for the premiership clubs, we find talent, nurture it and then because we cannot maintain a promotion push players will be sold.

    I think age should not come into the equation if your good enough its up to the manager to make you hungry enough age regardless.Most clubs who get promoted have a good balance between young and old heads.

    Paul Ince is a great example, we would not have signed him with our current policy, but can anyone argue that he wasnt hungry, Denis Irwin also.

    What is young classed at?
    Are you passed it at 27?

    Wonder what other fans think about this policy.

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  5. 5
    wolfmanmac

    We will have a crop of players to pick from when all the injuries clear up, surely perming any 11 out of a fully fit squad we can frighten someone other than the fans?

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  6. 6
    terrywalsallbaggie

    ive spent more in the january sales than your chairman,robert you are ded rite mate boing boing

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  7. 7
    wolfhound

    From Micks comments it seems he knows nothing about Karl Henrys supposed move to Reading for £2.5 mill he says that Steve Morgan would have told him,he forgot that Jez was probaly one behind it looking to make a quick profit.

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  8. 8
    david h

    k henry going to reading

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  9. 9
    Paul

    I agree with Robert Perry, there seems little interest in promotion. Why for example give players like Stephen Ward an extended contract for a further three years. He is not a Premiership player! Infact I can probably only name 2 of the current squad who might ‘hack it’ in the topflight – Hennessey and Kightly.

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  10. 10
    UCEWolf

    Terry have you spent money on a ticket to actually go to an Albion game? BoRing BoRing!

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  11. 11
    DebenhamWolf

    We need some `young and hungry` defenders if available.

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  12. 12
    Breretonwolf

    terrywalsallbaggie, are you sure that you shouldn’t write Boring Boring at the end of each statement, because you bore the socks off me. You think you are a comedian. DON’T EVER BE TEMPTED TO GIVE UP THE DAY JOB. (If you have a day job.)

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  13. 13
    Colley Gate Wolf

    I can’t understand why he hasn’t spotted the glaringly obvious signing we need i.e a quick centre half or 2. Robert, I can see where you’re coming from but I’m sure it’s not what Morgan wants even if MM and Moxey may have decided another season in the championship is ok (which I hope to god they haven’t)

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  14. 14
    Razor

    Don’t Dan Fox fall into the category of young & hungry ? I don’t get this left-back business, Gray has been one of our better players this season, but surely now is the time to bring a younger model, who can pick up on Gray’s experience and then take over from him next season? There’s nothing like future planning and this is nothing like future planning!!! Fox is one of the best young prospects in the country and we could have him for what passes for a pittance in today’s market. oh well, maybe we’ll hijack Portsmouth’s attempt to sign Lee Naylor!

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  15. 15
    DebenhamWolf

    If we are serious about going up this year we need a couple of class defenders, not necessarily young otherwise I can see us losing at least two class players to the premiership in the close season. I hope that there is real urgency concerning this but as most comments regarding our defence have been posted since the play-offs last season at least, when it was apparent that we struggle against pace and class.

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  16. 16
    JAMIE

    I THINK ALL WOLVES FANS WOULD AGREE WE NEED A QUICK CENTRAL DEFENDER AT LEAST…………….NOWS THE TIME TO BUY………….THIS WILL HELP SHAPE THE REST OF THE SEASON. COME ON OPEN THE WALLET
    JAMIE LANYON HOLIDAY PARK CORNWALL

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  17. 17
    Windsor Wolf

    No rush. We cannot be seen as a club splashing cash. We had that throughout the 90s. No, we need to keep things low key and played down. We also have to appear not desperate so we dont inflate prices. Rushing in works against us both in the short term and long term.

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  18. 18
    DebenhamWolf

    Left Back! Our esteemed leader is going to have a look at Daniel Jones at Northampton tonight?! There’s a young full back called Little plays for them as well, their man of the match in recent times. Those names ring a bell. Stoke had a decent if not too quick centre back also. Seriously, these lads have been getting the regular real games under their belts and it can do them some good if they’re up to it.

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  19. 19
    scottbloke

    Says it all when we had a bid accepted for Sadler a left back from Blues,but he chose to go to Watford,MM & Jez must have really sold the promotion dream to him.

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  20. 20
    Beobridge Wolf

    That’s two left backs who didn’t fancy coming to Wolves, this surely tells us something?????
    We do need a quality left back and a good centre-half with pace PLEASE PLEASE
    PS If Reading offered £2.50 for Henry I’d take it

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  21. 21
    WOLFMAN

    Watford are favourites to be in top 2 , wolves are not, so not really surprising is it that the defender chose them ????

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  22. 22
    Southern Wolves

    As I said on another story. It says here in Watford that Aidy Boothroyd has promised Sadler first team football which wasnt the case at Wolves.

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  23. 23
    Dingle Dan

    plz get a new pair on centre backs mick, when collins or ward get on the ball i prepare myself for the worst. i wouldn’t put them in my local team.

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  24. 24
    whispy wolf

    once again there a baggies in Wolf’s Clothing on this page eh? … wolfhound (7) And as for terrywalsallbaggie he’s a wolves wannabe

    C’mon you real Wolves Fans MM knows he needs to retain a big pot-o-cash to add to the money we’ll get when we go up.

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  25. 25
    UKOD

    No2. I agree…but who? Also would we be in a position to tempt them from their current club…mid table championship and all…

    No.4…I would suggest that we are well on the way to being a feeder club…Robbie Keane, Jo Lescott, Lee Naylor, even Carl Robinson went on to play prem…all home grown…we even have a legion of prem players we have nurtured…Miller, Seoul, Ingamarrson (rememeber Jones sold him because he wasnt good enbough for the prem!!!!) Im sure there are a couple more (although thats almost a first team by its self!!!
    Whos next…Kites…Hennessey (or Murray!)…Henry!!!!! ;) leave for the prem for a ridiculously low price (what did we sell Lescott for? How many games goals for Everton is it?) You know if we dont make it that one will be off!

    We need a couple of old heads…Ince, Rae style…(preferably in the defence…but a tough tackling midfielder would go down well!) steady the ship…I believe it worked before!

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  26. 26
    Tamworth Wolf

    Do you think that Steve Morgan invested in the club to stay in the championship. The answer is no!

    The young hungry policy is correct look at how many ex premiership players we have signed over the last 15 years who have under performed, players like Ince and Rae maybe are the exceptions. Make no mistake it is Steve Morgans intention to get us to the premiership and stay there.

    Dan Jones coming back and the likes of Gobern and Mark Davies hopehully regaining fitness our squad will be stronger, I agree with some comments we need a pacy centre half, I cant believe we did not consider Jack Hobbs of Liverpool who has now gone on Loan to Scunthorpe of all places.

    Steve Morgan is a successful businessman and he hasnt invested in Wolves to fail.

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  27. 27
    DebenhamWolf

    If we do not go up this year will it mean losing the likes of Kites and Hennesey to a rich premiership side? We need to go up this year and one or two good buys and avoidance of injuries will ensure this as our squad does look strong on paper. If we lose out at the last hurdle again the teams with the real money will be able to outbuy us;QPR and the relegated teams will have far more assets than ourselves. The gap is widening and I feel we are so close with this current squad plus a couple of quick and able defenders. I feel that JM and the management have done really well over the last two Januarys but hope theycan see the importance of this year. I’m sure they do but are playing their cards close to their chests. One week to go!

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  28. 28
    manchesterwolf

    short memory tamworth wolf! davies never played when he was fit ( he is a real footballer not a pure grafter so has no chance under boring “put a shift in mm”). we need a change of manager for footballers to get a game.rosa and davies are the 2 most talented players at the club – enough said. try taking off the rose tinted glasses!

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  29. 29
    Steve Bull Stand

    I do think a centre back and a left back are needed. Breen and Craddock take an age to get over injuries at their age and we need an alternative to Gray at left back. I would like to see Daniel Jones get a chance at left back but it seems McCarthy views him as a left sided midfield player.

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  30. 30
    wolf66

    It’s the second time this season McCarthy has said he is happy with is squad, the first time he was talking about automatic promotion, now we are talking about making the playoffs and it be a tough job, and he’s still happy with is squad, I personally can’t work the logic, but McCarthy for me has always talked in riddles, straight talking Mick, don’t make me laugh.

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  31. 31
    wolf66

    Tamworth Wolf, Do you mean all those ex premiership players that took us up to the promised land, I wish we could have some more under performers.

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  32. 32
    Robert Perry

    No 3 Do you actually watch any of the games? It is obvious we are nowhere near good enough for automatic promotion.Face the facts;we have spent only one season in the premiership and we have never achieved automatic promotion.Please tell me what has happened to suggest anything different will happen this season.

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  33. 33
    terrywalsallbaggie

    wolfman 21,you dident say who the other team was favarite to finish in top 2 boing boing

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  34. 34
    WetWolf

    Who says we had bids on Saddler or Fox other than the press? Strange if we did when Mick said we don’t have any bids on anyone.
    We have Jones coming back from Northampton to give us cover at leftback. I don’t think we need to sign anyone for that position.

    I think Mick is actively looking for a centreback. Mad as he can sometimes be, I doubt he thinks Breen and Craddock will last forever. I don’t blame him for keeping quiet and not rushing forward into this. We certainly don’t want to end up paying over the odds for players, Morgan’s money or not. With Breen just about fit and Craddock finally on the way back, its not like we are desperate.

    The “young and hungry” idea I do agree with. Mick has shown that he is willing to consider older more experienced players too: he did a great bit of business bringing in Gray after all.
    Overall though I prefer the idea of bringing in players like Kightly, SEB, Jarvis, Edwards, etc. They all look like good prospects who can do a job for us for a while and still be worth a few quid when it’s time to sell them.

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  35. 35
    Mark

    Wolves are not a premiership team and the manager is definately not premiership material. Getting a promotion would just mean another embarrasing demotion the following season giving yet more fuel to the Tesco bag brigade. We have to just be content with where we are unless Mr Morgan takes some possitive action, which he is obviously not going to do. I love my Wolves but I think we just have to be content with what we are. End of story. Buying more players would be for a club with an optimistic future, not for us.

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  36. 36
    pompey wolves

    how about anew back four that has pace and a bit of defending know how now that would be a start, the donkeys we have at the back now wouldnt last 2 seconds in the premiership if we are going to get promoted then surely you start at the back first

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  37. 37
    Tez

    Karl Henry is not joining Reading – where do you get your information from?

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  38. 38
    Tez

    Karl Henry is not leaving Wolves. The trash Mirror Newspaper reported this. Don’t believe trash tabloids like this

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  39. 39
    Bridget & Tony

    35 Mark With regards to your comments on buying more players being for a club with an “optimistic future”

    Do you not feel that SM is keeping his powder dry and because of MM he is not prepared to open up the purse strings as much?

    Would it be different if Steve Morgan had appointed his choice of manager?

    Afterall, SM was had a bid of £75m turned down when he tried to purchase Liverpool, so we believe that there is alot of potential there for the future, but maybe not under the guidance of MM for reasons best known to SM

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  40. 40
    wolfie

    we have supposed to have made a bid of 2.5million for commons from nottingham forest would be a good signing we need a back up right mid just incase kites gets injured again get and try daniel jones at left back and rid of gray hes rubbish

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  41. 41
    wolvessince66

    Well said Mark 35. I think this is an end to an era where we always thought Wolves would be a promotion chasing team. We are now about where we deserve with this management team, It won’t get any better. We had better get used to it. So stop bickering let’s accept it, this is the Wolves.

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  42. 42
    northlondonwolf

    Tamworth Wolf said:
    Do you think that Steve Morgan invested in the club to stay in the championship. The answer is no!

    What did he invest??? £10

    All these signings are not from morgans pocket but the clubs funds.
    I agree with the few posts which are realistic and not forever looking through gold glasses. We have, as a club, no vision, aspirations or desire to be in the premiership which, for a lifelong fan, a total disgrace. I thought the bad times finished when the bhati bros dissapeared but i think they have come back with a vengence in the disguise of fat controller and mighty muppet

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  43. 43
    Waggies Left Peg

    So we are interested in young and hungry players then Mick.No one told you the average age of our defence then I guess.
    Surely there is a quality young center half and left back out there somewhere.Still,it will be mad micks neck on the line at the end of the season if we miss out on promotion.

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  44. 44
    Wolves since 1945

    I see the totally illiterate Terry has been posting again with his “favarite” saying boing boing.
    I suppose he is going to say he “dident” write it. Your “ded rite” he will.
    I really do wonder if this guy has got a BRAIN.

    Report abuse

  45. 45
    quality counts

    I haven’t seen Morgan keen on spending any money. He didn’t spend any to start the season, hasn’t spent much in January.

    Being realistic, he knows this is a championship team and he is quite happy for it to be that. As long as the fans keep coming and spending money that all he needs to keep his investment sound.

    Chance of going up this year? unlikely but after Saturdays game I must admit its possible.

    With the amount of money he said he was going to invest I would have thought by now the team would be a shoe in and in the top two or three.

    He has mislead us so far. Results are all that matter. They haven’t been exactly championship calibre have they?

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